29. Then many that sought after justice and judgement went down into the wilderness, to dwell there,
30. they, and their sons, and their wives, and their cattle; because evils were multiplied upon them.
31. And it was told the king’s officers, and the forces that were in Jerusalem, the city of David, that certain men, who had broken the king’s commandment, were gone down into the secret places in the wilderness;
32. and many pursued after them, and having overtaken them, they encamped against them, and set the battle in array against them on the Sabbath day.
33. And they said to them, Thus far. Come forth, and do according to the word of the king, and you⌃ shall live.
34. And they said, We will not come forth, neither will we do the word of the king, to profane the Sabbath day.
35. And they hasted to give them battle.
36. And they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped up the secret places,
37. saying, Let us die all in our innocency: heaven and earth witness over us, that you⌃ put us to death without trial.
38. And they rose up against them in battle on the Sabbath, and they died, they and their wives and their children, and their cattle, to the number of a thousand souls.
39. And Mattathias and his friends knew it, and they mourned over them exceedingly.
40. And one said to another, If we all do as our brethren have done, and fight not against the Gentiles for our lives and our ordinances, they will now quickly destroy us from off the earth.
41. And they took counsel on that day, saying, whoever shall come against us to battle on the Sabbath day, let us fight against him, and we shall in no wise all die, as our brethren died in the secret places.
42. Then were gathered together to them a company of Hasidaeans, mighty men of Israel, every one that offered himself willingly for the law.
43. And all they that fled from the evils were added to them, and became a stay to them.